Two-way envelope



Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT oEF'lcE-f This invention relates to a two-'way envelope. An object of the invention is to combine in a single envelope the important features that have 4heretofore been produced only in several envelopes, whereby a most eicient and simple envelope is producedfor a two-way use, such for instance, as a creditor sending a bill to a debitor and a debitor returning the bill with check to the creditor in the same envelope.

I am aware that many envelopes have been produced, attempting in different ways to facilitate mailing, but I am the flrst one to produce,

in a single envelope, the several features that go envelope constructed in accordance with the present invention, while Figure 2 is a rear view of the same. Figure 3 is a plan view of the single blank,

showingthe improved envelope, prior to folding Figure. 4 is a sectional viewtaken on line 4-4,

' Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 isa rear view of the envelope with the top ilap'in a raised position. vFigure 6 is a perspective view of the envelope showing the same partly folded.

Figure 'l is a perspective view of the envelope with,` the rectangular full-width resealing flap ready to be folded over, While Figure 8 is a view in elevation of the envelope with said resealing flap folded over and sealed upon the face of the envelope, for the return of the same to the sender.

Figure 9 is a view in front elevation of the bill head, to be used in the envelope, while yFigure 10 is a rear view of the same.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, my' combined and simplified two-way envelope comprises afront portion 1 having a large sight opening 2 in its lower part of preferably substantially o ne-half the size of said front portion. This sight opening? is covered by a transparent sheet 3, such as cellophane. Integral with the front portion 1 is right hand end flap 4, left hand end flap 5, bottom flap ,6 and top flap 7. The end flap 4 is of the same length as the front portion 1, and is provided with a resealing flap 8, rectangular in shape, and of a length equal to the length of the front portion 1, and of a depthsubstantially one-half vof the front portion, for excellently covering and strengthening'the front portion, as clearly shown in Figure 8 when the envelope is resealed and ready to be mailed back to the sender; this is a marked improvement over the prior art. The resealing flap 8 is provided with adhesive material on its inner face along its outer longitudinal edge and also along its two end edges, as clearly shown vin Figure 3, so that the fastening in the position shown in Fig. 8 is accomplished in an excellent manner. whereby the portion of said envelope having said large sight opening 2 as well as bothv ends of said envelope isgreatly strengthened against accidental tear.

Whenl the right hand end flap 4 is'vfolded over,

hesive material or glue 9 against the outer face of end flap 4, to seal the two flaps together. Then thev bottom flap with its two glued edges is brought up againstl the end flaps 4 and 5, and sealed in this position, as shown in Fig. 2p It will therefore, be seen thatthe right hand end flap 4V is provided with no adhesive material.

The top flap 'I and front rortion 1 is provided with an inner line of perforations 10, and the top ap is provided with a second line of perforations I11 and with a marking line 12. When the envelope blank, Fig. 3, is folded, the top-flap 7 is creased along the marking line 12, so that the lines oftperforations l0 and 11 register, with the flap sealed upon the end flap 4. Then when the receiver wishes to open the envelope, he tears the strip 13, Fig. 1, along the perforated line which leaves ready access to the envelope. Then the receiver removes the contents such as the billhead or bill 14. This billhead `14 contains the name of the receiver, as John Doe, which is exposed through `the sight opening. When the envelope is to be remailed to the sender, say William M. Rossiter, the bill is folded along line 15,

as indicated in Fig. 6, then the left hand end ap 5 is brought over, with its single line of adfio;y

to place a new stamp on and, if desired, write anything he desires on this full width new sur`- face. In Fig. 1, I have indicated the envelope as it appears received by the debitor, while in Fig. 8, the envelope is shown as when returned to the creditor.

In the prior art many envelopes `are shown that contemplate facilitating mailing, but prior to my invention, no one has disclosed, in one single blank all of the important elements that produce a new combinationI of the specic type herein described and set forth in the following claim.

What I claim is:

As a new article of manufacture, a twoway envelope formed from a single blank and cornprising a front portion, said front portion provided in its lower half at its lower edge with a large sight opening of approximately the same size as its lower half, an end flap integral with said front portion and provided at its upper edge with a rectangular reinforcing and resealing flap of the same length as said front portion and adapted to extend entirely across the same, said reinforcing and resealing ap provided with adhesive material along its outer longitudinal edge and its right angular ends, and said rectangular resealing flap secured over the entire upper half of the outer face of said front portion just above said large sight opening, whereby the portion of said envelope having said sight opening as well as both ends of said envelope is greatly reinforced and strengthened against accidental tear, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM MORRIS ROSSIIER.

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